PUBLIC views are being sought by police and Cornwall Council to support a new project to help detect criminal activity and improve traffic management in the county.

Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council have been holding a series of public consultation road shows this week, to reveal plans for improving Cornwall's Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) network, and will be coming to Callington tomorrow (Friday).

The project will introduce 24 additional cameras to the county which will be in place from early next year.

The road show, which will be at Tesco Callington from 10am to 2pm, will provide members of the public with an opportunity to learn about how ANPR is used in policing and meet local police officers and council representatives to discuss any concerns or issues.

The public will also be asked to complete a questionnaire about their understanding of the usage and benefits of ANPR.

ANPR cameras are an essential policing tool to help detect, deter and disrupt criminality at a local, regional and national level. They will also provide Cornwall Council with information to help improve traffic management and real-time traffic monitoring.

Superintendent Craig Downham, head of operational policing, said: 'We are extremely pleased to have collaborated with Cornwall Council to improve the ANPR cameras in the county and the consultation road shows will hopefully help gain the public's support for the project.

'ANPR cameras are an essential policing tool and increasing the number we have in Cornwall will make it even more difficult for criminals to move around the county without being detected. The more we know about them and their movements, the more we can prevent crimes being committed.'

Glyn Williams, transport and technology manager for Cornwall Council, said: 'ANPR technology provides us with vital traffic origin and destination information and journey times. This information helps inform strategic decisions when planning highway improvement and new developments to keep traffic flowing through Cornwall.'

Visit Callington Tesco tomorrow to find out more or complete the questionnaire online at https://services.devon-cornwall.police.uk/surveys/ANRP/index.htm">https://services.devon-cornwall.police.uk/surveys/ANRP/index.htm